UN Urges All Actors In Venezuela To Lower Tensions After Arrest Of Guaido Aide - Spokesman

Sumaira FH Published March 21, 2019 | 11:47 PM

The United Nations calls on the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the National Assembly in Venezuela to de-escalate tensions following the detention of opposition leader Juan Guaido's close associate Roberto Marrero, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Thursday

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st March, 2019) The United Nations calls on the government of President Nicolas Maduro and the National Assembly in Venezuela to de-escalate tensions following the detention of opposition leader Juan Guaido's close associate Roberto Marrero, UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Thursday.

"We have learned with concern of reports of the detention of Juan Guaido's Chief of Staff, we renew our call on all actors in Venezuela to undertake immediate steps to lower tensions and refrain from any actions that could lead to further escalation," Haq told reporters.

The spokesman added that UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has closely been following the latest developments in Venezuela and expressed concern about the "shrinking" of democracy in the country. Bachelet also called on the Maduro government to demonstrate its commitment to respect human rights.

Earlier on Thursday, a source in the Caracas police told Sputnik that Venezuela's intelligence service SEBIN detained Guaido's close associates Roberto Marrero and Sergio Vergara.

The source explained that SABIN detained Marrero and Vergara at their homes in the El Cafetal neighborhood of the Baruta municipality. However, the Venezuelan authorities released Vergara, but kept Marrero in custody, the source said.

In January, US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido illegally declared himself interim president of Venezuela after disputing Maduro's reelection victory in May. Washington immediately endorsed Guaido, called on Maduro to step down, and seized billions of Dollars' worth of Venezuela's oil assets.

Maduro has accused the United States of trying to orchestrate a coup in order to install Guaido as a puppet leader beholden to Washington. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia, Turkey and a number of other countries have voiced their support for Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.